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Customers are welcome to use poolside changing if they would prefer - that’s the message from the people in charge of Parklands Leisure Centre after a petition called for kids to be banned from the dry changing area.

John McFadyen wants to see under 18s stopped from using the dry changing room at Parklands Leisure Centre in Oadby - describing the current set up as a ‘safeguarding issue’.

But Everyone Active, the firm who run the leisure centre on behalf of Oadby and Wigston Borough Council, said that the current arrangements meet all of the necessary guidelines.

Parklands Leisure Centre, Oadby.

James Naylor, contract manager at Everyone Active, said: “As a community venue, we want everyone who uses our centres to feel safe and comfortable.

“Customers visiting Parklands Leisure Centre to use the gym or take part in other activities are welcome to use the range of changing facilities we have available, including our pool-side village changing area if they prefer.

“We follow best practice and industry standards, which the changing facilities at Parklands Leisure Centre meet, and have strict safeguarding policies in place to protect the safety of all our customers. Their wellbeing is of paramount importance to us.”

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As well as the dry changing area used by Mr McFadyen, the centre also has a changing village for the use of families using the facilities. The area has cubicles for changing and showering but can be used by both sexes and all ages in line with NSPCC guidelines.

Mr McFadyen, who is retired and uses the gym at least three times a week wants to see changes made to prevent children and adults using the dry changing room at the same time.

He explained: "I've been on my own in that changing room on several occasions with young boys of 10, 11 and 12. It's a safeguarding issue.

"There are no cubicles, no curtains, there's no privacy.

"I find myself being naked around children in there on a regular basis, there's no privacy and no dignity.

"I think it should be an adults only changing room. There are other places for children to get changed at the centre."

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Should children be banned from using the dry changing room?

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Mr McFadyen added: "Both the FA and English Cricket Board guidelines state that children and adults should have separate changing rooms, the NSPCC does too."